Traveling House & Pet Sitter Insights
Pet and house sitting is an amazing way to travel that we are excited to tell others about! TrustedHousesitters makes it particularly easy, but we've definitely gathered some insights and stories that will benefit beginners that we're always happy to share!
We've gathered our tips here, but please contact us (Brooke & Buddy) with any questions you may have about house & pet sitting. We are open books! Speaking of books … Brooke wrote a short story book called Home Flexible about our first three years as traveling pet sitters …
Our House Sitter Story
In early 2018, we were in need of a change and stumbled upon house and pet sitting through TrustedHousesitters and it honestly changed everything for us. We are finally traveling to places we only dreamed of, saving a ton of money by not needing our own home base, and – our favorite part – having fluffy pals to hang with at each new home we temporarily live in. We're often even given a car to use during our visit as well as great insider tips on the area. One of the biggest benefits is getting to truly live like a local when you travel.
While house and pet sitting is ideal for a traveling digital nomad lifestyle, it is also a great way to travel part-time. If you aren't ready to jump in head first, we recommend getting your toes wet in a nearby city!
How Do You Find House Sits?
We primarily use TrustedHousesitters.com to find all of our sits because it seems like the easiest to use and we’ve never had a problem getting a sit through the site.
However, there are DOZENS of other options – including Nomador, HouseCarers, HouseSitMatch, and MindMyHouse. Plus, lots of country-specific sites, like HouseSittersAmerica, HouesSittersUK, and AussieHousesitters. Of course, word of mouth goes a long way as well. So a little shameless self-promotion on your social channels may just lead to that dream sit you've been hoping for!
How Does House Sitting Work?
If using a site like TrustedHousesitters, the sit is set up as a mutually beneficial trade. You get a free place to stay and they don’t have to pay to have someone watch their home and pets. There is a review process and you are encouraged to interview each other before locking in a sit commitment.
However, do note that you are responsible for your transportation to and from the sit, any food, etc. Also, remember the pets and home should always be your top priority. So, if you want to explore the area, be sure to ask how long it is okay to leave them alone and be mindful of that when making any plans. It's important to ask the right questions to make sure you are a good fit for the sit and vice versa.
What are the Benefits of House & Pet Sitting?
You can also save a ton of money by having a free place to stay, a kitchen to use, and even a car to drive (in some cases)! It’s a pretty sweet deal. It is also a kind of genius way to scope out a new area you may want to live. Getting to see what the area is like as a local gives a genuine, realistic view.
Where Can House Sitting Take You?
In short … EVERYWHERE! Since beginning our full-time house sitting journey, we have house sat on multiple Hawaiian islands and all throughout Europe – with plans to expand our house sitting travels to other countries.
Since we use TrustedHousesitters and it is an international site, we are always seeing new opportunities pop up in interesting places we've never even heard of. One of our biggest challenges is just having the self-control to not take on a sit that would cost an arm and a leg to get to. Trust me, there are some amazing places – and it is so tempting to just throw our budget out the window and go!
This video gives a great look into a day as a house and pet sitter. We also recommend these resources:
- House Sitting Magazine has a huge archive of great articles as well as courses for beginners!
- The International Pet Sitters Connect and House/Pet Sitters Support groups on Facebook are also wonderful to join!
- We share valuable insights from working from the road as house sitters in this podcast.
- The TrustedHousesitters blog and community forum are great options for finding answers to questions.
- Be sure to read our pet sitting blogs linked below as well for more insider tips!
Be sure to check out our blog posts below with more tips for taveling as international pet sitters!
Pet and House Sitting Articles
5 Important Tips for Being a Traveling Pet Sitter with TrustedHousesitters
When we joined TrustedHousesitters in early 2018, we had no idea how far the house/pet sitting journey would take us. Thirty countries and dozens of furry friends later, I decided to share our favorite pet sitting stories that are inspiring, entertaining, and highly...
6 Tips for Getting Your First House Sit with TrustedHousesitters
Wanting to get started house sitting and wondering how to get your first house sit through TrustedHousesitters? We have all the tips you'll need to get going!
What Does a Typical Day of International House Sitting with Pets Look Like? (+VIDEO!)
Interested in what a typical day of international house sitting looks like? Read about our experiences so far and check out a fun video to learn more!
What a Year of Full-Time Travel as Nomadic House Sitters Looks Like: Places, People & Pets
Taking on a nomadic lifestyle as full-time travelers and house sitters has been a dream. Check out some of the highlights to inspire you to chase your dreams!
23 Things to Know About Life in Hawaii for Long-Term House Sitters or Visitors
There is just something wonderfully different about island life in Hawaii. We have been fortunate to be long-term house sitters there and have some useful tips.
9 Helpful Things to Know Before Taking an International House Sitting Gig
So, you want to get into international house sitting? Here's everything you should know before taking your first gig pet sitting abroad. Plus, other tips!